Remember those dreaded spelling book exercises? Use each new word in a sentence. There is something of that in 13 Words, written by Lemony Snicket and illustrated by Maira Kalman (Harper; 32 pages; 16.99; all ages). With 13 seemingly random words as drivers, Snicket (a.k.a. Daniel Handler) creates sentences and strings them into a cryptic and convoluted tale about a despondent bird and his loyal dog friend.

It's not easy to connect "convertible," "haberdashery," "panache" and "mezzo-soprano," but Snicket does so in a manner more fanciful than forced. True, the logic police are occasionally on vacation, but no matter. Kalman just kicks up the quirky factor in sly and surreal scenes filled with visual references to Kafka, Renaissance art, the fez and Einstein. Literal readers may struggle with this wry concoction, but the venturesome will cheer its playful spirit. Note: The Contemporary Jewish Museum of San Francisco features an exhibition of Kalman's work until Oct. 26.

E-books are big. Sales soared in 2009. What does that mean for trade books? Sales are steady so far, but publishers are bracing for a wild ride. One safety valve: promoting books to little kids, and that's what several new picture books do.

The digital-versus-print debate is taken up in It's a Book, by Lane Smith (Roaring Brook; 32 pages; $12.99; all ages). In this comical picture book, a jackass with a laptop asks a monkey about his book. "Do you blog with it?" he asks. "Text?" or "Tweet?" Monkey answers in the negative and enumerates the virtues of print on paper: No Wi-Fi, mouse, screen name, password or charger needed.

Dry humor permeates the visual exchanges. With a cheeky punch line (kids, do not try it at home), Smith uses irreverence to express reverence for the book. He makes good points but misses the most important one. When it comes to formats old and new, it's not about nostalgia or cutting edge but rather what's best for the purpose.

There's no debate in Dog Loves Books, by Louise Yates (Knopf; 32 pages; $16.99; ages 3-7). Dog loves books so much he decides to open his own bookstore. But there's a problem: no business. What Dog does while waiting for an economic upturn makes him a better independent bookseller. Exuding charm, this dear and rather droll picture book is about following your dreams, the power of reading, resiliency, service and sharing.

Another irresistible pup turns into a reader in How Rocket Learned to Read, by Tad Hills (Schwartz & Wade; 32 pages; $17.99; ages 3-7). And all because of a yellow bird. As Rocket's self-appointed teacher, she reads aloud, introduces the "wondrous, mighty, gorgeous alphabet," and gives spelling instruction before flying south for winter. Rocket is left to practice in the snow until spring. The straightforward plot unfolds at a leisurely pace to underscore important relationships between teacher and student, words and meaning, story and listening, pleasure and reading.

Young readers need good books. Otherwise, what is the point? Two new ones add to the beginners' canon. Identical twins are individuals too in Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same! by Grace Lin (Little, Brown; 44 pages; $14.99; ages 6-8). Six vignettes about haircuts, magic tricks, dumplings, chopsticks, library books and sticking together provide proof. Chinese American life and sibling relations are drawn with realism and affection. Simplicity governs story lines, word choice, sentence length and illustration, as in the very best beginning-to-read books.

Two girls negotiate their sometimes testy friendship in Bink & Gollie, written by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee and illustrated by Tony Fucile (Candlewick; 96 pages; $15.99; ages 6-8). One is tall, and one is small, and, in three zippy chapters, they learn about compromise, individual quest and shared experience, and jealousy. Splashy drawings, mostly in black and white, further infuse energy, humor and honest feeling.